TITLE 9

Counties

Provisions Affecting All Counties

CHAPTER 7. Park Districts

Subchapter VI. Miscellaneous Provisions

§ 770. General corporate powers.

Every park district shall, from the time of its organization, be a body corporate and politic by such name as set forth in the petition for its organization and shall have and exercise the following powers:

(1) To adopt a corporate seal and alter the same at pleasure; to sue and be sued; to contract in furtherance of any of its corporate purposes;

(2) To acquire by gift, devise, grant or purchase, any and all real estate, or rights therein necessary for building, laying out, extending, adorning and maintaining any such parks, boulevards and driveways, or for effecting any of the powers or purposes granted under this Code as its board may deem proper, whether such lands be located within or without such district;

(3) To acquire by gift, bequest or purchase any personal property necessary for its corporate purposes;

(4) To pass all necessary ordinances, rules and regulations for the proper management and conduct of the business of the board and district and to establish by ordinance all needful rules and regulations for the government and protection of parks, boulevards, and driveways and other property under its jurisdiction, and to effect the objects for which such districts are formed;

(5) To rent or lease park property for income producing purposes consistent with the operation of park and recreation activities;

(6) To establish and collect fees for the use of park facilities;

(7) To prescribe such fines and penalties for the violation of ordinances as it shall deem proper not exceeding $200 for any 1 offense, which fines and penalties may be recovered by suit in the name of such district before the Superior Court in the county in which such violation occurred, and all fines when collected shall be paid into the treasury of such district;

(8) To enter into agreements with other agencies, organizations or individuals for the rental or lease of lands or facilities owned by such agencies, organizations or individuals;

(9) To manage and control all officers and property of such districts.

9 Del. C. 1953, §  770;  52 Del. Laws, c. 42.

§ 771. Deposit of funds.

(a) Any park district, when so requested by its treasurer, shall designate a bank or banks or other depository in which the funds of the district may be deposited. When a bank has been designated as a depository it shall continue as such until 10 days have elapsed after a new depository is designated and has qualified by furnishing the statements of resources and liabilities required by this section. When a new depository is designated, the district shall notify the sureties of its treasurer of that fact, in writing, at least 5 days before the transfer of funds. Such treasurer shall be discharged from responsibility for all such funds and moneys deposited in a bank or depository, so designated, while such funds and moneys are so deposited.

(b) No bank shall be qualified to receive such funds or moneys until it has furnished the district with copies of the last 2 sworn statements of resources and liabilities which such bank is required to furnish to the State Bank Commissioner. Each bank designated as a depository for moneys or funds shall, while acting as such depository, furnish the district with a copy of all statements of resources and liabilities which it is required to furnish to the State Bank Commissioner; provided, that if such funds or moneys are deposited in a bank, the amount of such deposits shall not exceed 75% of the capital stock and surplus of such bank, and such treasurer shall not be discharged from responsibility for any funds or moneys deposited in excess of such limitation.

9 Del. C. 1953, §  771;  52 Del. Laws, c. 42.

§ 772. Recreational programs and other special powers.

All park districts shall have power to plan, establish and maintain recreational programs, provide musical concerts, to construct, equip and maintain field houses, gymnasiums, assembly rooms, comfort stations, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, wading pools, bathing beaches, bath houses, locker rooms, boating basins, boat houses, lagoons, skating rinks, piers, conservatories for the propagation of flowers, shrubs, and other plants, animal and bird houses and enclosures, athletic fields with seating stands, golf, tennis, and other courses, courts, and grounds, and the power to make and enforce reasonable rules, regulations, and charges therefor. The express enumeration of each of the foregoing recreational facilities and equipment which park districts are herein given the power to provide shall not be construed as a limitation upon said park districts, nor prohibit any park district from providing any other facilities or equipment which may be appropriate for park purposes in any park of said district, nor shall the same in any way be held to limit the power and authority conferred upon park districts under other sections of this chapter.

9 Del. C. 1953, §  772;  52 Del. Laws, c. 42.

§ 773. Approval of the General Assembly.

When land has been acquired under the provisions of this chapter, it is to be considered as a public trust and may not be sold or otherwise disposed of without prior approval by an act of the General Assembly.

9 Del. C. 1953, §  773;  52 Del. Laws, c. 42.